NEW DELHI: The Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering at IIT Delhi has secured national recognition at the Sanrachna 2026: Product Development and Design Hackathon, with three research-led innovations being selected among the top three innovative ideas in the competition. The hackathon was organised by TBD Campus in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).The achievement came in a highly competitive field, with more than 700 applications received from across the country. A total of 31 teams reached the final stage of the competition. The three award-winning innovations from IIT Delhi were developed under the guidance of Prof. Harun Venkatesan, highlighting the institute’s research in technical textiles and product development.Three innovations receive national recognitionThe first recognised innovation, BacCelAero, was developed by Dr. Ankita Sharma, a postdoctoral researcher. The project focuses on a sustainable bacterial cellulose aerogel designed for diabetic wound care and emergency haemorrhage management.The second innovation was presented by PhD scholars Sudipto Behera and Sukriti Baliyan. Their research centres on an ultra-lightweight aerogel-based sleeping bag and mattress system intended for soldiers, disaster response personnel and mountaineers operating in extremely cold environments.The third innovation, KISAN-SHIELD: Multifunctional Protective Textile for Indian Farmers, was developed by MTech graduate Sambhaskar Singh. The textile solution is designed to protect farmers from occupational risks, including heat stress, ultraviolet radiation, rain, humidity and insect exposure.Recognition at Bharat Tex 2026The three innovators were felicitated by Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh for their contributions to the development of technical textile solutions in India.The grand finale of the Sanrachna 2026 hackathon was organised during Bharat Tex 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from July 14 to July 17, 2026. The event brought together innovators, researchers and industry stakeholders to showcase product development in the technical textiles sector.The recognition reflects the institute’s ongoing research in technical textiles aimed at addressing healthcare, defence, disaster management and agricultural challenges through innovative material technologies.
